Professor John Robertson OBA
From Isle of Wight County Press today:
Isle of Wight ferry firm Red Funnel has announced another raft of cancellations on its car ferry service. A dozen more sailings are off tomorrow (Monday) — six from East Cowes and six from Southampton.
It follows an influx of cancellations over the last week, including today (Sunday), following technical problems with vessel Red Falcon. The ship remains out of action due to an “unexpected fault” with the propulsion system, meaning the route is currently operating with just one boat.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/more-misery-car-ferry-customers-120630177.html
Yes, but are they reasonably priced compared to, say, CalMac?
Is that because the have to pay such high taxes to the Government?
Are the users relaxed about this?
Does any of this matter?
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Never once have I read about or seen this on the news. Why then are we subjected to Scottish ferries being degraded locally and nationally by the MSM?
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“More misery for car ferry customers as cancellations continue’ in English ‘scandal’ ferry system”
Wow that sounds like a bit of a, checks bloody notes, “Catastrophe” and a Fiasco” and to be honest it’s also a bloody “Scandal” too…..and dare I say it’s also a touché moment for our Scottish government , and for us too who support the Scottish government.
I wonder , this #Bad Isle of Wight Ferry story , is it only in the ‘local news’ for ‘local people’ and so it has not quite made it into the ‘National’ news yet ,as in National news that covers the UK state on TV , Radio & the Newspapers ?
Is it covered on the BBC website under ‘News where they (Isle of Wight) are ?
Oh I just checked the BBC website main England page.
Nowt.
So I then went onto their England local news page that covers the Isle of Wight news
Also nowt….
As in , as far as the BBC is concerned today, it’s……..
‘All Quiet On The #Bad Isle Of Wight Ferry Front’.
Compare and contrast the Ferries in Scotland and the BBC …..where it’s a case of ‘Hold the top article slot on the main Scotland page as we have got (yet) another Scottish #Bad Ferry story’…..rinse and repeat.
However I did read on a online Conservative website , under the dedicated page for the new Tory MP for the Isle of Wight, Joe Robertson, that in respect to the Isle of Ferries they stated this on their site :
“Unlike other public transport systems, Isle of Wight ferries operate without regulation or subsidy, leaving residents and businesses at the mercy of foreign-owned, debt laden, private operators”.
Funnily enough though , Joe Robertson was once a member of the Isle of Wight Council from 2021 to 2023 prior to becoming a Tory MP in 2024 for the Isle of Wight East .
(There’s also currently an MP for the West of the Isle of Wight , who’s a Labour MP and he too was a Councillor on the Isle of Wight Council , so two MP’s for one island and it looks as if , as an island , it’s divided politically).
Bob Seely was the previous Tory MP for the Isle of Wight prior to the 2024 boundary changes there.
So , currently and previously the Isle of Wight has had two Tory MP’s and also various Tory UK governments (from 2010 up to July 2024) but only now does the current new Tory MP for the IOW East, Joe Robertson, ask the , checks bloody notes, new Labour UK government to rectify, as in to intervene, to protect Isle of Wight passengers from excessive ferry prices and bad services, unreliable services for a vital transport link from unregulated Ferry companies !
Why did the previous Tory UK governments not act on this ?
However apparently PM Sir Keir Starmer knew all about the #Bad IOW Ferry services as he concurred with the points that were made by Joe Robertson at a PMQ’s in January this year , as in when Joe asked whether the government would “intervene” to address these problems with the Isle of Wight Ferry service.
Joe’s said that his constituents on the Isle of Wight are entirely reliant on foreign-owned, debt-laden, unregulated ferry companies for essential travel.
(Also TUS had noted this exchange in a previous TUS article).
So perhaps now is the time where some need to consider stopping their constant snide comments that #OnlyScottishFerriesAreBad as in those who are:
All of the UK and Scottish media (both mainstream & rogue media in the various media formats within the UK)
All of the opposition parties
All of those obvious partisan individuals trying to score a cheap point against the SNP on so called political Debate programmes (as panel and audience members)
As all of them constantly declare that only in Scotland are Ferry services and Ferries #BAD which then morphs into #SNPBAD.
But we do now have evidence that, both within and outwith the UK, that proves that this is most certainly not the case……
(Joe Robertson, Tory MP for the Isle of Wight, did note that the Scottish Ferries were both subsidised and regulated , but he did not say by whom, clue….it’s not by the UK government…..as if).
Liz S
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@ Me @ 16.20
“and dare I say it’s also a touché moment for our Scottish government , and for us too who support the Scottish government”
“touché moment” ? ? ?
No, I too do not know what I meant by this either Ha Ha.
I do know what I thought I meant to say when I first wrote this, but having re-read it , it makes no bloody sense at all , it sounded okay in my head, I wish it had stayed there.
I need a break , a permanent one , I need to take up a new hobby that uses up most of my free time… Ha Ha
Liz S
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O/T The BBC News website (March 17) has this headline: ‘Grangemouth: A new dawn for the home of UK’s oldest oil refinery?’.
It’s no surprise to find such a long article in both the main Scotland and Scotland Business sections written by BBC Scotland’s environment correspondent. After all, it’s one of the most important topics currently in Scotland – economically and politically. The article emphasises the past and present importance of the Grangemouth refinery and its potential for the site to be important economically in future.
Readers of the BBC piece are told this: ‘The UK government commissioned a report – known as Project Willow – into the options for the site, which is expected to be published in the coming days.’
The UK government has published various press statements on Project Willow.
September 12, 2024: ‘UK and Scottish governments announce joint plan to secure industrial future of Grangemouth – The UK and Scottish governments respond to Petroineos’ decision to close Grangemouth oil refinery.’ (my emphasis)
‘The UK and Scottish governments have announced a joint investment plan for Grangemouth following Petroineos’ decision to decommission its oil refinery and pledged to work together for an industrial future for the site … ‘
UK Government Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is quoted: ‘Unlike in the past, the government is working in lockstep with the Scottish Government across every front. Workers and their families should be in no doubt this is a government that stands with workers, trade unions, and businesses to fight for jobs and investment in Scotland. ‘
October 17, 2024: ‘Progress for investment in Grangemouth’s future – UK and Scottish Governments step up plans to support workers at Grangemouth refinery, with immediate investment in skills and training.’
‘The UK and Scottish Governments are jointly stepping up plans to support workers at the Grangemouth refinery affected by the risk of redundancy, with immediate investment in skills and training.’
The lengthy BBC News article attributing Project Willow to the UK government makes ZERO reference to the Scottish Government, its efforts and investments to mitigate the harms arising from the closure of the Grangemouth refinery and to secure a viable future for the site.
It’s a new low for BBC Scotland to fail even to adequately represent UK government statements on its relationship with the Scottish Government on such an important and politically sensitive topic.
Why would a well informed BBC journalist omit to inform on the Scottish Government’s substantial contributions alongside those of the Westminster government?
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